Passed 20 to 18 in the Senate on March 7, 2012, to allow, but not require, the Department of Corrections to contract out the incarceration of prisoners to a private prison in a five year contract, if doing so would save at least 10 percent. This could include a contract to house adult prisoners at the former Michigan youth correctional facility in Baldwin, a privately owned and managed prison whose previous contract with the state was revoked by Gov. Jennifer Granholm in 2005. View All of Senate Bill 877: History, Amendments & Comments

The vote was 20 in favor, 18 against, and 0 not voting.
(Senate Roll Call 115)